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Today is Curling is Cool Day, Digital Learning Day, Single-Tasking Day, National Chili Day, and Introduce a Girl To Engineering Day. And these are just a few of hundreds of examples of unusual holidays observed throughout the year. This hour we learn all about these unusual holidays and how they’re created. We discover why some people find joy in celebrating these days, and we talk with the creators of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, National Grammar Day, and Find Your Inner Nerd Day.

GUESTS: 
Marlo Anderson: Founder of the National Day Calendar
John Baur: Co-founder of International Talk Like a Pirate Day 
Martha Brockenbrough: Author, teacher, and creator of National Grammar Day
Holly McGuire: Editor-in-chief of Chase’s Calendar of Events
Beth Ziesenis: Author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Inner Nerd Day

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Today is Curling is Cool Day, Digital Learning Day, Single-Tasking Day, National Chili Day, and Introduce a Girl To Engineering Day. And these are just a few of hundreds of examples of unusual holidays observed throughout the year. This hour we learn all about these unusual holidays and how they’re created. We discover why some people find joy in celebrating these days, and we talk with the creators of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, National Grammar Day, and Find Your Inner Nerd Day.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Marlo Anderson: Founder of the National Day Calendar</li>
<li>John Baur: Co-founder of International Talk Like a Pirate Day </li>
<li>Martha Brockenbrough: Author, teacher, and creator of National Grammar Day</li>
<li>Holly McGuire: Editor-in-chief of Chase’s Calendar of Events</li>
<li>Beth Ziesenis: Author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Inner Nerd Day</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow"> Twitter</a>.

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

There’s always a reason to celebrate: A look at the world of unusual holidays

Backrooms is the feature directing debut of Kane Parsons. It is written by Will Soodik and based on Parsons’ YouTube series of the same name, which was inspired by the The Backrooms creepypasta. Backrooms is A24’s highest-grossing movie to date. It is the fifth-highest-grossing independent movie ever made and the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.

And: Obsession is the second feature film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. It was made for a reported $750,000, and it has grossed $443 million at the worldwide box office. It is Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie to date. It is the highest-grossing movie with a budget under $1 million ever made and the highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.

GUESTS:
RS Benedict: A writer and bureaucrat whose fiction and non-fiction has been published in the New Haven Review, Fangoria, Current Affairs, and a bunch of other places
Shawn Murray: A stand-up comedian, writer, and the host of the Fantasy Filmball podcast
Carolyn Paine: An actress and comedian; she’s the founder and director of CONNetic Dance and the creative producer and choreographer for The Bushnell’s Digital Institute
Mercy Quaye: Founder and president of The Narrative Project

Backrooms&nbsp;is the feature directing debut of Kane Parsons. It is written by Will Soodik and based on Parsons&rsquo; YouTube series of the same name, which was inspired by the The Backrooms&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepypasta">creepypasta</a>.&nbsp;Backrooms&nbsp;is A24&rsquo;s highest-grossing movie to date. It is the fifth-highest-grossing independent movie ever made and the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.
And:&nbsp;Obsession&nbsp;is the second feature film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. It was made for a reported $750,000, and it has grossed $443 million at the worldwide box office. It is Focus Features&rsquo; highest-grossing movie to date. It is the highest-grossing movie with a budget under $1 million ever made and the highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>RS Benedict:&nbsp;A writer and bureaucrat whose fiction and non-fiction has been published in the&nbsp;New Haven Review,&nbsp;Fangoria,&nbsp;Current Affairs, and a bunch of other places</li>
<li>Shawn Murray:&nbsp;A stand-up comedian, writer, and the host of the Fantasy Filmball podcast</li>
<li>Carolyn Paine:&nbsp;An actress and comedian; she&rsquo;s the founder and director of CONNetic Dance and the creative producer and choreographer for The Bushnell&rsquo;s Digital Institute</li>
<li>Mercy Quaye:&nbsp;Founder and president of The Narrative Project</li>
</ul>

The Nose looks at ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’

Bob Dylan turned 85 years old in May. His first album, 1962’s Bob Dylan, is in its 65th year on record store shelves.

We’re at a point where, for most of us, there has simply never been a popular culture in which Dylan wasn’t a towering figure whose influence seems to touch, well, everything.

This hour, a look at Bob Dylan at 85.

GUESTS:
Noah Baerman: A pianist, composer, and educator
Fred Bals: Hosted the Dreamtime podcast, covering Theme Time Radio Hour with Your Host, Bob Dylan
Sean Latham: Director of the Institute for Bob Dylan Studies, editor of The World of Bob Dylan, and the writer and narrator of It Ain’t Me You’re Looking For: Bob Dylan at 80
Gayle Wald: Professor of American studies at George Washington University; her most recent book is It’s Been Beautiful: Soul! and Black Power Television

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired May 20, 2021.

Bob Dylan turned 85 years old in May. His first album, 1962&rsquo;s Bob Dylan, is in its 65th year on record store shelves.
We&rsquo;re at a point where, for most of us, there has simply never been a popular culture in which Dylan wasn&rsquo;t a towering figure whose influence seems to touch, well, everything.
This hour, a look at Bob Dylan at 85.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Noah Baerman: A pianist, composer, and educator</li>
<li>Fred Bals: Hosted the&nbsp;<a href="https://fhb-dreamtime.blogspot.com/2010/03/about-dreamtime.html">Dreamtime</a>&nbsp;podcast, covering Theme Time Radio Hour with Your Host, Bob Dylan</li>
<li>Sean Latham: Director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://dylan.utulsa.edu/">Institute for Bob Dylan Studies</a>, editor of&nbsp;<a href="https://dylan.utulsa.edu/the-world-of-bob-dylan-book/">The World of Bob Dylan</a>, and the writer and narrator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w331/episodes/guide">It Ain&rsquo;t Me You&rsquo;re Looking For: Bob Dylan at 80</a></li>
<li>Gayle Wald: Professor of American studies at George Washington University; her most recent book is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dukeupress.edu/its-been-beautiful">It&rsquo;s Been Beautiful: Soul! and Black Power Television</a></li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired May 20, 2021.

The Poet Laureate of Rock ’n’ Roll: A look at Bob Dylan

This hour, we explore the history and economy of fruits, from the strange to the inedible. Plus, we interrogate what it means for fruits to be seasonal, and why the berries in the supermarket your supermarket aisle might be tasteless!

Additionally: why do we think of the Forbidden Fruit as an apple?

GUESTS:
Lee Reich: Author of several gardening books, including “Fruit: From the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection” and “Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden”
Evan Lentz: Commercial Fruit Production Specialist and Educator at the University of Connecticut Extension.
Azzan Yadin-Israel: Professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University and the author of “Temptation Transformed: The Story of How the Forbidden Fruit Became an Apple”.

Music featured (in order):
No Frills Cumbia (Sensory Fruit) – Kevin MacLeod
Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie – Jay at the Techniques
Strawberry Fields – The Beatles
Coconut – Harry Nilsson
Underneath the Apple Tree – Carmen McRae
Adam Lay Ybounden – The Cambridge Singers as conducted by John Ritter
Garden of Eden – Celtic Woman

This hour, we explore the history and economy of fruits, from the strange to the inedible. Plus, we interrogate what it means for fruits to be seasonal, and why the berries in the supermarket your supermarket aisle might be tasteless!
Additionally: why do we think of the Forbidden Fruit as an apple?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://leereich.com/">Lee Reich</a>:&nbsp;Author of several gardening books, including &ldquo;Fruit: From the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection&rdquo; and &ldquo;Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden&rdquo;</li>
<li>Evan Lentz:&nbsp;Commercial Fruit Production Specialist and Educator at the&nbsp;<a href="https://cahnr.uconn.edu/extension/">University of Connecticut Extension</a>.</li>
<li>Azzan Yadin-Israel:&nbsp;Professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University and the author of &ldquo;Temptation Transformed: The Story of How the Forbidden Fruit Became an Apple&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPP4Cfupzhs">No Frills Cumbia (Sensory Fruit)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Kevin MacLeod</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEPSrdA8kbY">Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Jay at the Techniques</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtUH9z_Oey8">Strawberry Fields</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Beatles</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsSuueEGQSM">Coconut</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Harry Nilsson</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba8ONbDy6Yg">Underneath the Apple Tree</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Carmen McRae</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/ccqrfIfjIjs">Adam Lay Ybounden</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Cambridge Singers as conducted by John Ritter</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFQWshvUhdM">Garden of Eden</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Celtic Woman</li>
</ul>

There’s always a reason to celebrate: A look at the world of unusual holidays

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